1517-1518. LEO X. dissolves the council of the LateranCommencement of the reformation-Supersti tion of the middle ages-The early promoters of literature arraign the misconduct of the clergy-Dante-Petrarca-Boccaccio and others expose the clergy to ridicule-Accusations against the clergy justly founded—Attempts made to restrain the freedom of publication-Effects of the revival of classical literature on the established religion-And of the study of the Platonic philosophy—Restraints imposed by the church on philosophical studies-General spirit of inquiry-Promulgation of indulgences-Impolicy of this measure-Luther opposes the sale of indulgences -They are defended by Tetzel-By EcciusAnd by Prierio-Leo inclines to temperate measures-The emperor Maximilian calls on the pope to interfere-Leo cites Luther to appear at Rome-Luther obtains a hearing in Germany-He repairs to Augsburg-Interview between Luther and the cardinal of GaetaLuther appeals to Leo X.-Papal decree against the opinions of Luther-He appeals from Leo X. to a general council-Two circumstances which contributed to the success of LutherI. He combines his cause with that of the promoters of learning-II. He offers to submit his doctrines to the test of reason and scripture. CHAP. XV. THE Council of the Lateran, which commenced under the pontificate of Julius II. having now sat for nearly five years, approached the termination of its labours. Were we to insinuate that the motive of Julius in convoking this assembly, was that it might operate as his justification, in refusing to submit to the adverse decrees of the council of Pisa, we might incur the imputation, although we should now escape the penalties of heresy.(a) It VOL. III. (a)" Quisquis ergo hanc synodum ea dumtaxat prima"ria intentione a Julio indictam existimat, ut hoc prætextu "judicium Pisani Conciliabuli declinaret, graviter aberrat." S. S. Concilia Labbei et Cossartii. tom. xiv. p. 343. in notis Binii. Ed. Par. 1672. fo. 5 CHAP. A. D. 1517. A. t. 4, A. Pont. V Leo dis solves the council of the Late ran. XV. CHAP. It may, however, with confidence be asserted, that this council was chiefly intended to counteract the proceedings of the Conciliabulum, A. D. 1517. A. Et. 42. A. Pont. V. and in this respect its triumph was complete ; the cardinal Carvajal, who had been the leader of the refractory ecclesiastics, having not only made his submission in the seventh session of the council of Lateran, but having accepted the humiliating honour of performing divine service on its final dissolution, which took place on the sixteenth day of March, 1517. On this occasion a solemn excommunication was denounced against all persons who should presume to comment upon or interpret its transactions, without the special license of the holy see.(a) Com The peace of the church thus restored, mencement by the labours of the council, was not howof the Re- ever destined to remain long undisturbed. formation. Scarcely had the assembly separated, before the new opinions and refractory conduct of Martin Luther, a monk of the Augustine order at (a) "Inhibentes sub excommunicationis, latæ sen"tentiæ, pœna, omnibus et singulis Christi fidelibus, ne "in præsenti Concilio gesta et facta sine nostra et dictæ se"dis licentia speciali, glossare aut interpretari præsumant." S. S. Concil. tom. xiv. p. 335. 73 |